Cam oscillating arrangement for automatic ornamental stitch sewing machine



Nov. 19, 1963 TEncHl NISHIGAMI' 3,111,099 CAM oscILLATING ARRANGEWNT FonAUTOMATIC ORNAMENTAL STITCH SEWING MACHINE Flled May 12, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR.

TEIICHI HIGAMI BY M ATTORNEYS lNov. 19, 1963 TEucHl NlsHlGAMl' 3,111,099

CAM oscILLATING ARRAgGwENT Foa AUTOMATIC ORNAMENTAL STITCH SEWINGMACHINE Flled May l2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGA r ,I la I6 L |2INVENToR. 1 TEH Hl NlsmGAMl BY //7=-- L ATTORNEYS United States PatentOffice 3,111,099 Patented Nov. 19, 1963 CAM OSCILLATNG ARRANGEMENT FRAUTGMATlC GRNAMENTAL STITCH SEW- ING MACHlNE Teichi Nishigami, GsakaCity, Osaka, Japan, assigner to Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago, Ill., acorporation of New York Filed May 12, 1961, Ser. No. 109,598 Claimspriority, application Japan May 18, 1960 Claims. (Cl. 112-158) Thisinvention relates to an automatic Zig-zag sewing machine generally, andmore particularly to a machine having a plurality of rotatable patterncams mounted within the machine, the cams being oscillatory andoperatively connected with a needle bar to produce a desired Zig-zagstitch.

In accordance with my invention a plurality of pattern cams are mountedfor rotation on a suitable support which is itself pivotally mounted onthe machine frame, the support being operatively connected to the needlebar of the machine. Through a train of planetary gears the cams arecaused to be rotated and also to be oscillated about the axis of thesupport in counter-response to iixed cam tracking elements, one or moreof which may be in engagement with one or more cams. The oscillation ofthe cam support imparts oscillating motion to the needle bar.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, the principal object of thisinvention is the provision of a plurality of pattern cams mounted forrotation and for oscillation about a pivotal support which isoperatively connected to the needle bar of a sewing machine, said camscooperating with one or more stationary cam tracking elements wherebywhen one or more of said elements is rendered operative, the cam supportis caused to oscillate thereby actuating the needle bar in accordancewith the cam pattern.

Among other objects of my invention is the provision of a simplifiedconstruction which is economical to manu-facture, which may be assembledeiciently and which may be readily serviced.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will becomeapparent from the following description when the same is considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a sewing machine embodying myinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 1 with certain parts omitted for clarication;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 4--4 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIG.1, and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 6 5 of FIG.5.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10' designates a main drive shaftoperatively connected to a source of motive power, such as an electricmotor, not shown. The shaft 1t)` carries a worm 11 iixed thereon. Afixed shaft 12 is supported at one end in a boss 13 integral with thewall of the machine housing `15. A pair of worm wheels 14 and 16integrally connected are rotatably supported on shaft 12 and areconfined on the shaft between a head portion 17 and a bushing 18, thelatter secured in the boss 13. As will be apparent by reference to PIG.1, the shaft extends at a right angle relative to the axis of shaft 10and the worm wheel 14 is in engagement with worm 11.

A bracket 19 is suitably mounted on a shoulder 21 integral with thehousing wall 15. The bracket 19 is bored to receive a shaft 22 whichpivotally supports for oscillating movement a bracket 23. The saidbracket, as will be seen clearly in PIG. 3, is generally U-shaped andincludes a pair of spaced upstanding arms 24 provided with registeringapertures to rotatably support a shaft 26. The shaft 22 is provided withan extension 2S which rotatably supports an integral Worm 29 and wormgear 31. The worm 29 is in engagement with worm wheel 16. A stack ofdifferent stich pattern cams indicated ygenerally by the numeral 32 iscarried on shaft 26 and locked thereto as with set screw 33 for rotationtherewith, the cams 32 being disposed between the upstanding arms 24 ofbracket 23. A planetary spur gear 34 is fixed on the end of shaft 26 andis in meshing engagement with spur gear 31. A pin 36 is carried on theupper end of arm 24 of bracket 23.

A double armed crack lever 37 is pivotally supported as by a screw stud38 on a casting projection 39 integral with the machine housing 15. Onearm 4-1 o-f the crank lever 37 is in engagement with pin 36 while theother arm 42 is coupled to a pitman 43 which is operatively connectedtothe needle bar of the machine, not shown. The arm 42 also carries ascrew pin 44 to which is connected one end of a tension spring 46 whichserves to bias the crank lever 37 in a counter-clockwise direction, asshown in FIG. 1, to maintain the arm 41 in constant engagement with thepin "36.

A plurality of cam tracking elements 47 are arranged in alignment withthe cams 32, there being a separate element for each one of the cams.The said elements are supported for pivotal movement on a shaft ed whichis suitably supported on the housing wall of the machine.

A plurality of push buttons, indicated generally by the numeral 419, onefor each of the cam tracking elements 47 are arranged in alignment withrespective tracking elements and extend through a suitable opening inthe housing wall '15 of the machine so as to be accessible to theoperator of the machine. As will be seen by reference to FIG. 6, each ofthe push buttons 4,9 includes notched and angular portions as shown at51 which cooperate with guide plate 52 and slide plate 53, the latterbeing biased as by a spring 54. Each of the push buttons is biasedoutwardly by a spring 56.

In FIG. 5 the push buttons 419 are shown as arranged in two tiers oneabove another. It will be understood that this arrangement is merely forthe purpose of providing adequate clearance for the parts so as tomaintain the arrangement of parts in as compact a relationship aspossible.

In the operation of my invention, a push button 49 is pressed in inorder to select a desired cam pattern. As illustrated in FIG. 6, a pushbutton 49 when so pressed is automatically locked into operativeposition by reason of the slide plate 53 interengaging with a notch onthe portion 51. Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that the trackingelement 47 is caused to engage a respective cam 32 and cooperatetherewith. As the main drive shaft it? is driven by the motor of themachine, the shaft 25 is driven at a lreduced speed through the train ofgears 11, 14, 16, 219, 3-1 and 34. The spring 46 through the crank lever37 normally urges the cams 32 in a direction towards engagement with acam follower which has been actuated to operative position. It will beapparent that as the cams are caused to rotate the bracket 23 is causedto oscillate about the axis of shaft 22 in accordance with the campattern, correspondingly oscillating the crank lever 37 and transmittingsuch motion to the pitman 43 which is connected to the needle bar of themachine, thereby irnparting lateral swinging movement to the needle bar.

It will be understood that a different cam pattern may be selectedmerely by depressing a dierent push button 49 corresponding tothedesired cam pattern. Under such circumstances a push button 49previously depressed will be caused to return to non-operating position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that my invention provides anarrangement wherein a large assortment of pattern cam discs and acorresponding number of cooperating cam followers, each permanentlyaligned with one of the cam discs may be incorporated in a highlycompact arrangement within a machine housing thereby affording areduction in the number of machine parts and resulting in acorresponding reduction in the cost of production as well as increasedeiliciency in operation and serviceability.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my inventi-on may suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to beVlimited to the specific embodiments shown and described or usesmentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of myinvention being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A control mechanism for an'ornamental stitch sewing machinecomprising a cam Isupport mounted for pivotal movement, a plurality ofdifferently shaped cams coaxially mounted on said support for rotationabout an axis carried by said support, a plurality of cam trackingelements, a gear train including planetary gear means for continuouslydriving said cams, spring means biasing the cams against selected camtracking elements whereby they will engage and cooperate to rock saidsupport While said cams are in rotation, means connecting the supportwith members to be controlled whereby the members may be actuated inresponse to the surfaces of selected cams, and

operator influenced means for shifting the cam tracking elementsrelative to each other thereby to select different cams to be engaged bysaid cam tracking elements.

2.. A control mechanism for an ornamental stitch sewing machinecomprising a plurality of rditerent rotary cams, a support for saidcams, means pivotally mounting said support, a cam tracking elementmoveable between operati-ve and inoperative positions, said cam trackingelement being engageable with one of said cams and looked againstmovement in its operative position, a gear train including planetarygear means for continuously driving said cams, means biasing the camsagainst the cam tracking element whereby the support will oscillatablyrespond to said cams in rotation, operator influenced means forselecting different cams to be tracked by said tracking element, andtransmission mechanism connected to said support.

3. A control mechanism for an ornamental stitch sewing machinecomprising a plurality of differently shaped cams ooaxially arranged andmounted for rotation about a shaft, a pivoted support carrying saidshaft and said cams, a cam tracking element moveable between operativeand inoperative positions, said cam tracking element being engageablewith one of said cams and locked against movement :in its operativeposition, means biasing the cams against the cam tracking elementwhereby the support will oscillatably respond to said cams in rotation,a gear train including planetary gear means for continuously drivingsaid cams, operator influenced means for moving said stationary camtracking element into engagement with one of said cams and transmissionmechanism connected to said support.

4. A control mechanism for an ornamental stitch sewing machinelcomprising a pivotally mounted support bracket, a plurality of camscoaxially arranged and mounted for rotation on said support bracket, acam tracking element moveable between operative and inoperativepositions, said cam tracking element being arranged to engage with oneof said cams and locked against movement in its operative position,means biasing the cams against the cam tracking element whereby thesupport bracket will oscillatably respond to one of said cams inrotation, a gear train including planetary gear means for continuouslydriving said cams, and transmission mechanism connected to said supportbracket.

5. ln an ornamental stitch sewing machine, a cam support memberpivotable about a fixed axis carried on the housing of said machine, astitch pattern producing cam rotatably mounted on said support, a camtracking element moveable between operative and inoperative positions,said cam tracking element being engageable with said cam and lockedagainst movement in its operative position, means biasing the camagainst said tracking element, gear means including planetary gears forcontinuously driving said cam, said support member being oscillatable inresponse to the rotation of said cam, and transmission means connectedto said support member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AN ORNAMENTAL STITCH SEWING MACHINECOMPRISING A CAM SUPPORT MOUNTED FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT, A PLURALITY OFDIFFERENTLY SHAPED CAMS COAXIALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR ROTATIONABOUT AN AXIS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT, A PLURALITY OF CAM TRACKINGELEMENTS, A GEAR TRAIN INCLUDING PLANETARY GEAR MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLYDRIVING SAID CAMS, SPRING MEANS BIASING THE CAMS AGAINST SELECTED CAMTRACKING ELEMENTS WHEREBY THEY WILL ENGAGE AND COOPERATE TO ROCK SAIDSUPPORT WHILE SAID CAMS ARE IN ROTATION, MEANS CONNECTING THE SUPPORTWITH MEMBERS TO BE CONTROLLED WHEREBY THE MEMBERS MAY BE ACTUATED INRESPONSE TO THE SURFACES OF SELECTED CAMS, AND